NMC NExT Webinar: Here are the key takeaways
New Delhi: In a commendable effort, during the webinar today, the National Medical Commission (NMC) addressed the apprehensions and doubts of medical students regarding the upcoming National Exit Test (NExT).
Although the webinar was scheduled to commence at 2:30 PM today, it started a little late. During the webinar that continued for about 50 minutes, the Chairperson of NMC, Dr. Suresh Chandra Sharma discussed several important issues regarding the upcoming common exit cum licentiate examination.
Mentioning that the prime objective of conducting the webinar was to remove the anxiety from the minds of the final MBBS students who are going to appear in the exam, the Chairperson of NMC pointed out how the problem with the conventional exam was the fact that there was a tendency to do selective reading and the chances of questions being repeated.
He also referred to the tendency of students to dodge topics in the conventional exam pattern and clarified that doctors do not get to choose their patients. Further, he mentioned that the National Exit Test (NExT) is going to cover the whole area and the stress will not be on selective reading. It will ensure that the students understand the subject and therefore the students will be required to do a general reading of the topic.
Assuring that NExT will be implemented not to create problems but to solve them, the NMC Chairperson further mentioned that NExT will be a common exam with a uniform approach all over the country and it will also help the students to prepare for the examinations abroad in countries like USA, Canada or UK. Further, it was mentioned that the aim of the examination is to remove the examiner or question-related bias.
Referring to the numerous questions raised by students all across the country, NMC mentioned that very soon the Regulations will be placed and that will address all the queries of the students.
However, the providing answers to some of the queries related to the exam, the Chairperson of the Commission mentioned that the study material for NExT will be same as the conventional exam. However, the method of evaluation will be different as it will evaluate all the aspects. The method of evaluation is going to be uniform and impartial, assured NMC.
He further clarified that the aim of NMC is to improve the standard of medical education without stressing the students. One of the major detail that was shared by him was the fact that Step 1 of NExT will be conducted twice a year. This will ensure that if the students miss the exam for any regional or national circumstances beyond human control, they will not have to face any delay because within six months there will be another examination.
Further, the NMC Chairperson informed how the Commission has removed the Supplementary of Step 1, because the word "supplementary" gives a negative impression in the mind of people. He informed that, there will be two exams and NExT Step 1 will be conducted in May and November.
Another issue that was discussed during the webinar was the issue of those students of the 2019 batch who have already passed the ENT and Ophthalmology in Part 1 of the final MBBS exam. NMC has said that the students will have the option to skip ENT/Ophthalmology questions when they appear in the main exam or when they appear after six months and the marks will be added.
The Commission Chairperson informed that 2019 batch will be the first batch who will join postgraduate courses on the basis of the NExT examination. However, until the time NExT 2 exam is not held for the first time, NEET-PG will continued to be conducted during the interim period. After that, everyone will have to appear in NExT examination to get PG medical admission. Referring to the NExT Mock test, the Chairperson mentioned that this test is for practice and the students should use it as a moral booster.
Apart from discussing about these issues, NMC also displayed an online presentation addressing the major issues related to the Step1 and Step 2 of the National Exit Test (NExT).
For NExT Step 1, the Apex medical commission in the presentation discussed about the objectives, distribution of items and knowledge level of questions, paper and distribution of subjects, proposed time schedule of papers. Addressing the Step 2 of NExT examination, NMC provided information regarding the objectives, distribution of subjects, evaluation methods, and time schedule. Further, NMC also informed about the tentative time schedule of NExT examination and associated events, and conduction of mock/practice test.
The major points regarding NExT, which were discussed in the webinar are as follows:
- The NExT step 1 will be a comprehensive computer – based examination based on high-quality Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQ) ensuring objectivity and following nation- wide delivery and conduction with robust fidelity in a secures manner.
- The MCQ items would address higher domains of knowledge aligned to competencies expected of an Indian Medical Graduate or Graduate practicing modern system of medicine, especially in India.
NExT STEP 1 – Distribution of items and knowledge level of Questions (approx.)
| MCQ items | Distribution percentage |
| Problems – solving and analytical skill types | 60-70% |
| Comprehension type | 20-30% |
| Recall type | 5-15% |
| Competencies acquisition | Level of Knowledge |
| Must know | 60% |
| Nice to know | 30% |
| May know | 10% |
Next Step 1- Papers and Distribution of Subjects
- The NExT Step 1 examination will have six subject papers with respective weightage in items and time allocation.
- Applied aspects of all other subjects of MBBS including Forensic Medicine and Toxicology (FMT) and Community Medicine will be mainstreamed into the relevant clinical subjects.
- In each paper 10% items will pertain to applied aspects of related subjects.
- The following Table 1 provides the subjects in each paper papers will respective weightage in items and time allocated with the provision of the items distributed.
| Papers | Subjects | No of Items | Duration |
| 1. | Medicine & allied subjects | 120 Items | 3.0 hours |
| 2. | Surgery & allied subjects | 120 Items | 3.0 hours |
| 3. | Obstetrics & Gynaecology | 120 Items | 3.0 hours |
| 4. | Paediatrics | 60 Items | 1.5 hours |
| 5. | Otorhinolaryngology | 60 Items | 1.5 hours |
| 6. | Ophthalmology | 60 Items | 1.5 hours |
NExT STEP 1 – Proposed Time Scheduled of Papers (Table 2)
The below Schedule is only indicative subject to feasibility and logistics
| Day | Subject | Duration | break | Subject |
|
| 1. | Medicine & allied sciences | 3.0 hours | 2.0 hours | Paediatrics | 1.5 hours |
| 2. | Rest Day No Examination | ||||
| 3. | Surgery &allied subjects | 3.0 hours | 2.0 hours | Otorhinolaryngology | 1.5 hours |
| 4. | Rest Day No Examination | ||||
| 5. | Obstetrics & Gynaecology | 3.0 hours | 2.0 hours | Ophthalmology | 1.5 hours |
Next STEP 2- Objective
- The Next Step 2 shall be a comprehensive practical/clinical examination to be conducted after completion of Internship that evaluated competencies in clinical diagnosis, patient examination and clinical decision- making, practical and communication sill necessary for practice of modern system of medicine especially in India.
Next STEP 2- Evaluation Methods
- Each examination would comprise of: -
- Actual cases
- Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
- Simulations if possible
- Depending on the ability of satisfactory or unsatisfactory performance there shall be only two level of grading “Competent or “Pass”/” Not Competent” or “Fail.”
Next STEP 2- Distribution of Subjects
The following subjects shall be evaluated during Next Step 2
- Medicine & allied subjects
- Surgery &allied subjects
- Obstetrics & Gynaecology
- Paediatrics
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopedics and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PMR)
Next STEP 2- Time Schedule
The time schedule and modalities of NEXT Step 2 shall be decided by the National Medical Commission and the respective authorized Universities / Institutions after completions of internship and prior to the admission process for the Postgraduate Courses of that year.
Tentative Time Schedule of NExT Examination and associated events
The time schedule of the entire process of NExT Examination, internship and admission to broad specially Postgraduate courses shall be announced by the commission and other bodies authorized by the commission
| S.NO | Event | Date of exam/Commencement | Date of Result/Completion |
| 1. | NExT Step 1 | May/November | 1st week June/ December |
| 2. | III MBBS/FINAL MBBS PART 2 Practical/Clinical university exam | 1st week June/ December | 3rd week June/ December |
| 3. | Internship | 1st January/July | 31st December/30th June following year |
| 4. | NExT Step 2 Regular | 3rd week June/ Dec | 4th week June/ Dec |
| 6. | NExT Step 2 Supplementary | 1st week Sep/March | 3rd week Sep/March |
| 7. | Post Graduate Admission | May- June (Counseling) | 30th June |
| 8. | Postgraduate Course | 1st July/1st week January | --------------- |
Note:- There shall again be counselling in the month of December for the seats which remain vacant after earlier counselling held in May- June
Conduction of Mock/Practice Test
- It is decided to conduct a mock/practice test on 28th July 2023.
- Registration for the same will start on 28th June 2023.
- This examination will be conducted by AIIMS Delhi as a designated authority for NExT Step 1.
- Only final year students pursuing M.B.B.S. courses in the medical colleges/ institutions are eligible for such mock/practice test.
- Aim of such test is to familiarize the prospective candidates with the Computer Based Test (CBT), software interface and process flow in the examination center. The sample questions in the Mock/Practice will only exemplify pattern and format of the NEXT-Step 1 examination. Still, they may not represent the complete NExT-Step I examination/syllabus coverage.
Disclaimer: Complete detail of the NExT examination is being notified through regulation separately. So, anything contained or spoken in this presentation will be superseded by such regulation.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that with an aim to address the apprehensions and stress built around the National Exit Test (NExT) examination, NMC had decided to hold a webinar on NExT with all the medical colleges.
All the final year MBBS students along with the faculty of the medical institutes across the country were directed by NMC to attend the webinar on June 27, 2023, at 2:30 P.M.
Writing to the heads of all the medical colleges across the country, the Under Secretary of NMC, K Srinidhi mentioned that the Chairman of NMC will address the final year MBBS students along with the faculties to remove the anxiety regarding the common exit cum licentiate examination, NExT.
NExT, a common exit exam envisaged by the government to standardize medical education across the country, was proposed by NMC as a part of the bill passed in the year 2019.
Section 15 of the NMC Act provides for the conduct of a common final year undergraduate examination, to be known as the National Exit Test (NExT) which shall be the basis for Registration to practice medicine, admission to PG medical courses and Screening Test for foreign medical graduates to practice modern medicine.
The NExT was supposed to be operational within three years from the commencement of the NMC Act, 2019 i.e. 25th September 2022 and conducted through a designated authority and in such a manner as may be specified by regulations. The Act came into force in September 2020.
During the Webinar, which was conducted today by NMC, the Commission informed that a mock/practice test for NExT will be held on 28th July, 2023 and the registration for the same will start tomorrow.
Also Read: NMC to organise webinar on NExT with final year MBBS students, medical college faculties
